I appreciate your comments George. Just as a side point, yes being a Christian is good, good in various ways such as having answers to the big questions in lufe, such as : why are we here ? what happens at death, why the suffering & will it end ? & so on. So knowing the answers does indeed make me happy, the reason I am 'whole' is due to Matt 5: 3 where Jesus said "happy are those conscious of their spiritual need “ being cinscious of this need I fill it & am happy. But being a Christian does not mean I am immune to problems in life, sickness & stress, but being a Christian I am perhaps better able to cope with these things by means of prayer & reliance upon my God. Sometimes people say others become a christian so as not to have to face the realities of this life, fair comment, but as I said christian or not we must all face what this world places before us, not only that but unlike non beleivers a Christian needs to be more aware as to what he says & does as he accepts God as his judge & law giver.........................if you think the laws of your Government are hard to live by thats nothing compared to the laws I TRY to live by as a Christian
That's exactly why religions are so wrong. They force you to be someone that you aren't. You have to mold yourself into something other than your natural self. That's no way to live your life.
Oh boy! There sooooooo many scriptures that describe your attitude. I feel sorry for you Yo-Yo. It must be very hard to be your own authority.
But to be a christian and be faced with the constant battle of what if isn't always a happy existance... - What if there is no God. (All holes in the bible aren't helping me believe) - What if I live my life by this strict code only to be wrong. Wouldn't I then wish I had enjoyed life instead of following a non-existant God's law? (NOTE: I know what you're going to say to that. If you're wrong then you'll simply cease to exist and you won't know. But what if you find out before you die? What happens when science finally wins the war? Science wins batles all the time with the dinosaurs and air travel, and trips to the moon. It's only a matter of time ) - What if the desire to fornicate and commit affairs isn't some cruel test by some puppet master watching us but is simply the natural urge by us animals (you didn't forget we are animals did you?) and that maybe humans aren't naturally monogamous yet? It might just be that we need a bit more "evolution" to get to that point That's just a sample of all the questions most believers secretly have, but you get the point. I think those types of questions are GOOD because it's those types of questions being asked of ones self that have freed many a person from dangerous religious cults like the wackos in Waco. Most believers will blow these and similar questions off as a test of faith. Me, I call that justified doubt.
Who says the bible got it right. Was christianity the first to come up with god. Did they patent the idea. Are they the microsoft of the spirit realm. Lets try some quick comparisons. perhaps they are all working on the same thing. http://www.aaitechnologies.co.uk/Qabala_Chakra_8_D_Model_mashup_by_metachor.jpg
What strict code? Is it so hard not to murder? Is it so hard to love your family? Is it so hard to love others? God asks nothing more than an understanding and acceptance that Love is the prevailing force. His for us, us for him, and the real proof, us for us. tom
If that were to be the case I still win, how? because by following the principles as laid down in the bible I have saved myself from much pain & heartache, I am a married man ( 25 years next month ) & yes there has been many times when I could easily have been unfaithful, like others I have desires, but I have been able to remain faithful ( but only just ) & I am happy I did otherwise my marriage may have been broken beyond repair causing much emotional & perhaps physical pain, so even if God did not exist my life has been better due to living by bible principles. One can enjoy life by following guidelines / laws, you may look at them as a restriction but I see them for what they really are, a protection. But let me ask this, How would your life change if you found that a God really did exist ? To some they would carry on as per normal, but to others life would take on a new meaning, in fact their life would have a meaning. To a degree yes, religion at times does try to force people to be a certain way, but God does not, there is a difference between the two ( religion & God ) God does not force you to do anything, the bible encourages us to do as God would like us to do because it's for our benefit, but no one is forced to do as God asks, it's a decision we personally make on our own, we either want to serve God or we dont. To live a Christian life is difficult at times, but I am not forced to do it, I choose to do it.
Which is why I am against organised religion and not the belief in God. Even though I still find a "God" to be far fetched, it's no big deal for people to believe in him. The problem is when religion forces people to be a certain way, and do certain things.
Was this a joke or do you really need for me to read off the 10 commandments to you? You'll notice that unlike a few others here that disagree with you I have no other problem with christians or any other religious sect save 2: 1) Their "sometimes" annoying belief that it is their life duty to "spread the gospel" 2) Blind faith. I've mentioned here before that I am actually grateful for religion in that it is the basic building block for society as we know it today. Without it the problem of getting people to obey ANY laws would just be too much and I don't think we'd be where we are as a people today. I mean you've got to laugh at the irony. It's the dedication, work ethic, and overall discipline that stems from religion in our society that enabled science to make the discoveries that disprove it. BUT..... don't be naive... there is also PLENTY of bad things that come from religion. War and atrocities in it's name being the most obvious but there is even more to it than that. People hide behind religion and use it to justify damn near anything they want. So how dare you try to pass religion off as nothing but flowers, hugs, kisses, and peace signs.... And I'm sorry, but did you just use the word proof when talking about God? What did you mean by that?
You sure about that? OK get ready I'm gonna preach from the book of George You see you don't need religion, or God or mystical story telling, or the fear of his wrath to be a good person!!! <-- If you ignore everything else I say please just think about that one sentence. I too am a good person. I'm 31, married and compassionate. I hate war (though I know it is necessary to defend yourself at times). I hate seeing innocent people killed. I hated to see the suffering in Darfur. Most of all anyone who ever or even has ever harmed a child is the enemy in my eyes. I love my kids with all my heart, I'm extremely successful in my career field and I live life to the fullest. I gained all of that not through believeing that God or some magical being was looking over the shoulder of myself and every single other person of the billions on this earth but from taking a serious look at myself, my life and what I want to accomplish. God didn't do that. I did. I know this because I never fully believed in God after the age of 12 and was positive of the nonexistance at 15. I didn't need God to tell me not to be unfaithful, I love my wife and I am faithful to her because I care about how she feels and what it would mean to betray her. Religious people are so brainwashed into thinking they need a God. And it's sad.. it's sad to watch someone in trouble being told to "just pray". And when magical God doesn't help them, what's the excuse? Oh... well God helps those who help themelves. Cmon give me an f'ing break. You're no better than a "fortune teller" who gets it wrong then makes up an excuse after the fact. If things had gone right for that person then they'd be jumping up and down screaming Hallelujah!! Prayer is the answer! None at all. As shown by my words above I live by a lot of the "laws" of your God by default. Not because I believe there is a God but because I believe they are a good way to live. Perfect example of why people think they need a God. They think their life actually means something.... I ask why your life has to have meaning to anyone but yourself and the people that surround you, friends, family, and loved ones? Live your life, affect the people around you in a positive way, contribute something to the world at large if that makes you feel fullfilled and be happy. Done that? Good, now enjoy your Sundays and I'll see you at the superbowl! Read what you just said.... you tried to separate God and religion then started quoting from the bible.... The bible is God's word according to Christian beliefs, therefore it is one of the many forms that religion takes to try to explain what God wants. Your choice indeed. I'll leave you with this thought.... The 2 most well known books in the bible are Genesis and Revelations. Why do you think that is? Here's my opinion... religious leaders who needed to constantly drive home these books for 2 reasons: - They needed a book to explain that sure there is a God and he is so powerful. Look what he created in 6 days! He created this great earth for you and for me. Yay! (Genesis) - They needed a book to show what happens when you screw it up. (Revelations). So I ask you.... why all the wrath and fire? Why so mad? I mean, he is God right? Didn't he already know all this would happen?
Discovery of the Big bang and evolution. The gaps in life's mysteries are closing everyday with scientists hard work and research.
doesnt the big bang actually disprove more science than anything else. If something cannot come from nothing; then the big bang is impossible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang Philosophical and religious interpretations Near the bottom. Kaballah Mysticisim has similarities to the big bang, Hindu Philosophy matches superstring theory. Wow, go figure.
it would? I don't see how. you are attempting to resolve the origin of the universe thru a scientific method, which is - at its heart - flawed at the point of origin. creationists are not bound by that, so it does not make it impossible.